Are you an internet addict?
INTERNET is in! Today’s teens face intense levels of pressure. In the digital age, the Internet has taken over. Even kids, nowadays, have been observed to be already knowledgeable about how to browse the internet, more than adults do. The increased digital age has driven us into the Internet age, and Internet addiction is becoming a serious matter to deal with, most especially with the young.
The most commonly identified categories of internet addiction include, but not limited to, gaming, social networking, email, blogging, and even online shopping. However, according to Cristina Gregory in her article regarding internet addiction disorder that just because you use the internet a lot—watch a lot of YouTube videos, shop online frequently, or like to check social media does not mean you suffer from internet addiction disorder. The trouble comes when these activities start to interfere with your daily life. Other researchers suggest that it is not the amount of time spent on the internet that is particularly troublesome— rather, it is how the Internet is being used. In addition, she stated that internet addiction disorder seems to affect the pleasure center of the brain. The addictive behavior triggers a release of dopamine to promote the pleasurable experience activating the release of this chemical. Over time, more and more of the activity is needed to induce the same pleasurable response, creating a dependency. That is, if you find online gaming or online shopping a pleasurable activity and you suffer from an addiction to the internet, you will need to engage in more and more of the behavior to institute the same pleasurable feeling prior to your dependency.
Signs and symptoms of internet addiction disorder can be manifested both physically and emotionally. Some emotional symptoms may include depression, dishonesty, feelings of guilt, anxiety, inability to prioritize or keep schedule, isolation, no sense of time, defensiveness, avoidance of work, mood swings, loneliness, boredom with routine tasks, and procrastination. Physical symptoms may include backache, headaches, insomnia, poor nutrition (failing to eat or eating in excessively to avoid being away from the computer), poor personal hygiene (e.g., not bathing to stay online), neck pain, dry eyes and other vision problems, and weight gain or loss.
If you are suffering from this internet addiction disorder, it might affect your personal relationships work life, finances, or school life, and you tend to isolate yourself from others. Distrust and dishonesty issues may also arise due to Internet addicts trying to hide or deny the amount of time they spend online. Serious financial troubles may also result from avoidance of work, bankruptcy due to continued online shopping, online gaming, or online gambling. Internet addicts may also have trouble developing new relationships and socially withdraw—as they feel more at ease in an online environment than a physical one.
Do you play video games on the Internet in excess? Are you compulsively shopping online? Can’t physically stop checking Facebook? Is your excessive computer use interfering with your daily life—relationships, work, and school? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be suffering from an internet addiction disorder. Be aware and share!